HER MAJESTY, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba, enacts as follows:

Definition, "main estimates"

1In this Act, "main estimates" means The Estimates of Expenditure of the Province of Manitoba for the fiscal year ending March 31, 1998, as laid before the Legislative Assembly at the present session of the Legislature.

Expenditure authority for 1997-98

2From and out of the Consolidated Fund of the province there may be paid and applied a sum of $1,694,578,550., towards defraying the several charges and expenses of the public service of the province not otherwise provided for, and being 35% of the total amount voted as set forth in the main estimates.

Authority for future commitments

3In addition to the expenditure authority granted in section 2, authority is granted to the government to commit on or before March 31, 1998, capital expenditures not to exceed in total an estimated aggregate amount of $100,000,000. for the purpose of ensuring completion of projects or contracts initiated during the fiscal year ending March 31, 1998.

Effect of other Appropriation Acts

4When an Act, other than this Act, for granting to Her Majesty certain sums of money for the public service of the province for the fiscal year ending March 31, 1998 and to authorize commitments to expend additional money in subsequent years is passed at the present session of the Legislature, expenditures and commitments made under the authority of this Act are deemed to have been made under the authority of that other Act, and this Act ceases to have effect on the coming into force of that other Act.

Application of money

5The due application of all money expended under the authority of this Act shall be accounted for to Her Majesty.

Coming into force

6This Act comes into force on April 1, 1997 and, in the event that it receives royal assent after that date, is retroactive and is deemed to have come into force on April 1, 1997.